European Council

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council has endorsed an agreement with the European Parliament on changes to the rules governing medical devices and in-vitro diagnostic medical devices, with a view to preventing shortages.

Press briefing ahead of the upcoming Agriculture and Fisheries Council will take place on 22 February 2024 at 10.30.

Today, the Council adopted its negotiating mandate for talks with the European Parliament on a proposal to set enhanced air quality standards and improve air quality monitoring.

The Council agreed on a directive to strengthen the role of equality bodies across the EU in combatting discrimination and promoting equal treatment.

Today, the Council removed Bahamas, Belize, Seychelles and Turks and Caicos Islands from the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. With these updates, the EU list consists of 12 jurisdictions.

Council adopts the directive ‘empowering citizens for the green transition’.

The Council adopted the Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation (MiFIR) and the Second Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) that aim to empower investors, in particular by making consolidated market data easily available at EU level.

The Council and the European Parliament reached an agreement today on a proposed regulation to establish an EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removal and emission reduction activities.

The EU issued a statement in which it expressed its outrage by the death of the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and its deepest condolences to his wife Yulia Navalnaya, their children, family, friends and all those who worked with him for the benefit of their country.

The Council approved conclusions on Belarus focusing on support for civil society actors while condemning the current regime for its repression of democracy, disrespect of human rights, and complicity in Russia's war against Ukraine.

The Council introduced a humanitarian exception to asset freeze measures agreed in the framework of Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of specific measures to combat terrorism.

The Council launched EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, the EU maritime security operation will safeguard freedom of navigation in area of the Red Sea and the Gulf.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, 19-25 February 2024

Le président du Conseil européen, Charles Michel, a prononcé un discours au Parlement européen dans le cadre de la Semaine parlementaire européenne 2024.

The Council adopted a decision and a regulation requiring central securities depositories holding assets and reserves of the Central Bank of Russia in excess of €1 million to keep the revenues and net profits obtained in connection with holding of such assets separate.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

The Council and European Parliament negotiators today reached a provisional political agreement on the preventive arm of the proposed reform of the EU’s economic governance framework.

Weekly schedule of President Charles Michel, 12-18 February 2024

The EU has made a declaration on Senegal expressing its concern at the decision of the Senegalese authorities to postpone the presidential election scheduled for 25 February, which would de facto extend the President’s term of office.